Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - Love in the Big City: Roman

This was such a joy to read, despite it being bittersweet. It’s such a fresh perspective on South Korean society today that puts queerness front and center, but still covers struggles that are incredibly relatable for many people in their twenties and thirties. It’s the struggle to find lasting relationships (romantic or otherwise), having questionable relationships (romantic or otherwise), the general dread of work and its culture, and, really, the frustrations of life not going the way you thought/hoped it would but having to live with that. However, particularly for Seoulites, this book also expressed the joys of living in such a vibrant city and finding your community.

I laughed a lot while reading this book, but I also sympathized with the loneliness that the protagonist, Young, felt, especially as a gay man in a homophobic society. You’re never given a fully satisfying feeling in this book, which may frustrate some, but I interpreted this as Park getting at the fact that life can be largely disappointing. But he certainly highlights moments of joy that are always peppered throughout one’s life.

Hur also did a phenomenal job with translating and really captured Young’s spirit well, which I imagine was a challenge. I also admit that I laughed a little every time Hur included when they were speaking (in)formal Korean, but I completely understand the reasoning behind this, as it really sets the tone of what the relationship dynamic is like. In addition, I thought Hur did a really great job subtly explaining some of the cultural norms without it taking away from the story (e.g., the importance of age difference).

More broadly, I hope we see more translations of Korean literature, because there are so many unique voices like Park’s that should be heard.

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